‘Battle of the Beltway’ Themed Engagement Session in DC and Maryland: Carolyn + Donte

When Carolyn and Donte met on an online dating site, they had no idea love was one click away. The couple dated for two months before deciding to take a cruise together. Nervous and excited, they let their guards down and sailed into love.

Carolyn, a DC native, and Donte, a Baltimore native wanted to show their affinity for their urban backgrounds with a “Battle of the Beltway” themed engagement session. Using the respective cities as their backdrops, the twosome embraced the grunge, the style, and the history of Maryland and DC for a fun and loving shoot.

Tunji Sarumi served as the photographic referee in this battling engagement session.

Bride-to-be: Carolyn Howell – Child Adolescent/Adult Psychiatrist
Groom-to-be: Donte Young – Candidate for the Maryland State Police
Location of Engagement Shoot: Our shoot began in Graffiti Alley in Baltimore, MD. We then traveled to Union Station in Washington, DC, and then to the tidal basin in DC near the Jefferson, MLK, and World War I Memorials.


Tell us all about the proposal!
For our third year anniversary, he told me we were going to get massages and we were going to dinner. When I arrived home from work I found a dozen white roses at the bottom of the steps. There were red rose petals leading up the steps to the living room, and another bouquet of red roses at the top of the steps. In the middle of the floor was the TV remote surrounded by a heart of rose petals with a sign that said “Please turn on tv.” Playing on the TV was a slideshow of pictures over the three years of our relationship, with R. Kelly’s song “Forever” playing in the background. At the end of the song R. Kelly sings “Marry Me!” and the last picture on the slide show was MY RING! Donte then came out in a suit and got down on one knee to ask for my hand. Next, I thought we were going to have an intimate dinner with just the two of us, but when we arrived at Stanford Grill I was surprised to see both of our families and our closest friends!



What did you do on your first date?
For our first date we went to a restaurant close to where I lived called Greystone Grill. We were both nervous, but we talked the whole evening. Neither of us wanted the date to end.



What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
We love live music, paint and sips, going out to eat, and working out together.



Tell us what you’re looking forward to the most on the wedding day.
On our wedding day, we are most looking forward to celebrating with family and close friends. We are also looking forward to dancing the night away!

Congratulations to Carolyn and Donte on their forthcoming wedding. What a fun engagement shoot, we can’t wait to see their wedding photos.

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Photographer – Tunji Sarumi Photography